New Ship No. 1 — Viking Sea

First in a series of new ships for 2016 The first new ship of 2016 will set sail the first week of April and the category it falls into is “A tough act to follow.” If the Viking Sea is, in fact, a clone of last year’s Viking Star then it will be a winner… Continue reading New Ship No. 1 — Viking Sea

Thanksgiving: Time To Make A Deal

If you’re wondering what became of Turkey Thursday, well, it was long ago gobbled up by Black Friday. Four or five centuries ago, it was the holiday with a singular purpose: to give thanks, be grateful. Today is about parades and football games and, most of all, shopping. It is the busiest day of the… Continue reading Thanksgiving: Time To Make A Deal

Friday File: Smile, You're On Cruise Camera!

Among the many benefits of seeing parts of the world from cruising is the happy people you encounter along the way. In North America, photo subjects are often reluctant to smile for the camera — in some cases, permission is requested or demanded. In many countries outside our continent, the smiles come readily from all… Continue reading Friday File: Smile, You're On Cruise Camera!

Barcelona's Beauty…And Beyond

BARCELONA, Spain — Right off the top, there are two observations about visiting this Spanish jewel that has been home to  Antoni Gaudi, the Olympic Games, Pablo Picasso and 5.5 million current residents.  One, you can never be here often enough to tire of Las Ramblas. This is good news for Costa Cruises, among others… Continue reading Barcelona's Beauty…And Beyond

Malt Shop Music On The Eurodam

News item: There’s a theme cruise on Holland America’s Eurodam next year called the Malt Shop Memories Cruise. On our first date, which must be close to 100 years ago, we went to a malt shop…okay, it was called The Chocolate Shop…same thing. But how many of us remember malt shops? Jukeboxes and sodas and… Continue reading Malt Shop Music On The Eurodam